In the commercial, Cuba is seen in the director’s chair instructing the actors to look at an empty podium, “imagine” the newest mobile device available from Optus and show him what it makes them “feel”. The actors then show Cuba their honest and unscripted reactions while visualising the very latest mobile phone.

Optus Head of Marketing Melissa Hopkins said, “Optus is really excited to launch the very latest mobile device accompanied by an innovative and clever commercial which features the amazing Cuba Gooding Jr in the Director’s chair and some superb Aussie actors.”

In August, Cuba put a call out to Australian actors to audition for an Optus commercial and was inundated with videos from up-and-coming actors wanting to show off their talents to the budding Hollywood director.

Thirty people, selected from everyday Aussies who had submitted videos and some trained actors, were chosen to audition, with the process filmed in a reality-television style from beginning to end. The actors had no idea the audition would turn out to be the commercial, and so their reactions were genuine, unfiltered and captured in one take.

“At Optus, we like to challenge the status quo and with this commercial we did that. We placed up-and-coming Aussie actors in front of a Hollywood director to capture their genuine reactions in an unscripted and spontaneous reality-television style commercial, which is a really innovative concept for a marketing campaign,” Mrs Hopkins said.

“The finished commercial is a combination of CCTV footage and audition tape, because we knew that a phone this good didn’t need a big scripted ad. We love working with Cuba because he always brings spontaneity and creativity to the set, and he absolutely did that in the role of director for this shoot.”

Bose is launching a new, integrated advertising campaign in support of their QC35 II noise-cancelling headphones. The campaign includes global work as well as creative developed specifically for Bose’s partnership with the NFL in the US. The campaign i...

In the next phase of promotion for the highly-anticipated FIFA 19 game, footballers De Bruyne and Dybala star in a print campaign and gaming assets for the new video game. Media Agency, Lagardère partnered with high-end sport and athlete photographer Rafael Astorga and LS Productions for the FIFA Ultimate Team shoot.

The players showcase their respective skills and signature on-field celebration poses in the striking images whilst adorned in their team kits and the FIFA Ultimate Team Kit for 2019.

Taking place over two days at London’s Big Sky Studios, LS Productions serviced and produced the shoot with De Bruyne and Dybala. With a wealth of experience working with sporting talent and a key production hub in Manchester, LS Productions are well-versed in working with high-end footballers.

LS Productions managed the footballers, their trainers and coaches on set to allow for the very best performances to be captured in a limited time frame. Abi Atkinson, Senior Producer at LS Productions says: “Athletes have demanding and strict schedules meaning the time they have on-set is often quite short. So it’s crucial to have a highly-skilled team and to be prepared.”

“We set up the studio and arranged body doubles of the footballers to do the pre-light run-throughs before the talent arrived, allowing us to be most efficient on the day. We also had the athlete’s trainers and coaches on-set to ensure they were comfortable to perform, and, of course, their preferred music to create a brilliant atmosphere!” says Abi.

The production service company also covered details for action shots such as laying AstroTurf and crash pads and arranged for makeup artists to ensure the talent’s skin reflected their dewy in-game complexion. LS Productions also organised a private jet for one of the players.

As well as the still shots, behind-the-scenes motion assets for socials were also capture on set. Abi adds: “The motion elements of the shoot were actually a last-minute addition but, because we had a tight team in place, were able to accommodate this and in just one day.” We brought on board a great team, who at short notice, were able to quickly ascertain what was involved creatively and get things in place ready for the shoot.

The creative assets form part of a wider campaign for the game launched in September 2018.

About LS ProductionsLS Productions is a UK-wide service production company that goes beyond service. They understand the creative, working collaboratively with a unique in-house locations team and database on hand to produce shoots for TV commercials, music videos, online content, fashion campaigns and editorials.

In Kenya, there is only one ice hockey team, and they have nobody to play against. Every Wednesday and Sunday, the Kenya Ice Lions take to the first-ever ice rink in East and Central Africa: a 1,400-square-metre rink at the Panari Sky Center Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Located next to Nairobi National Park, is where the Ice Lions take to the rink and play the game they love.

In Canada, it is sometimes taken for granted that Canadians can always find someone to grab a stick, find some ice and play a game. Tim Hortons heard the story about the Kenya Ice Lions and decided to share our love of the game by bringing them to the birthplace of hockey.

“In Canada - and as a company - Hockey is part of our DNA,” says Jorge Zaidan, Head of Marketing, Tim Hortons Canada. “We are so inspired by the story of the Lions. Despite having no other teams to play against, the players on the Kenya Ice Lions’ passion for the game is unwavering. Their shared passion and love of the game knows no borders.”

Moved by their love for Canada’s favourite sport, Tim Hortons flew 12 members of the senior Ice Lions team to Canada to have the opportunity to finally play their first game ever against another team. After dressing in brand new CCM hockey equipment and personalized jerseys, they discovered they were in for an even bigger surprise: hockey superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon were joining them on the ice as teammates.

“I was honoured to be able to join the Ice Lions as they played their first game against another team,” said Sidney Crosby, captain of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. “One of the things I love about hockey is how it’s able to reach so many people from so many countries around the world and bring them together.”

“While we played alongside the Ice Lions for their first game, we know it won’t be their last,” said Colorado Avalanche star, Nathan MacKinnon. “The team’s genuine passion and excitement for hockey is contagious – they were amazing teammates and it was great to play with them.”

“It is a dream to not only have the chance to play in Canada, but to play – for the first time – in full gear alongside two of the greatest players of the game,” says Benard Azegere, captain of the Kenya Ice Lions.“ When we first started playing in Kenya, we didn’t even have full equipment, but now not only do we have that, we can say we’ve played a real game with some All-Star teammates.”

Tim Hortons made a donation to Kenya’s Youth Hockey League to help ensure that the Ice Lions’ passion for the sport lives on for the next generation. To see the full video of the Kenya Ice Lions hockey game with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, please visit https://youtu.be/CqYfhY5gVl8.

About TIM HORTONSTim Hortons, part of Restaurant Brands International, is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,700 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at timhortons.com

In the new television spot, a group of Brits clad in summer walking gear are preparing to scale a verdant mountain in the Swiss Alps. Before they can, however, the weather closes in and they are left shivering in an ice cave.

The voiceover says ‘Sometimes a taste is all you need’ – the strapline associated with McDonald’s Great Tastes of the World. We then see a close-up shot of the McDonald’s rich and creamy Swiss stack looking delicious with its smoky bacon and emmental cheese sauce.

The ad follows a spot promoting the French-inspired burger in which Lycra-clad Brits attempting - and failing - to tackle the Pyrenees on their high-end racing bikes are cheerily passed by a local Frenchman effortlessly scaling the hill on his traditional push bike.

Two further television ads will follow promoting Brazil and Jamaica-inspired menu items, along with radio spots, social activity, press, digital and out-of-home advertising. In each, a similar theme is followed with holiday optimism quickly turning out to be misplaced.

Each country-themed burst runs for two weeks, making eight weeks in total for the campaign. The Switzerland ad breaks on October 10.

Michelle Graham-Clare, McDonald’s Head of Marketing, Food and Beverages, said: “With Great Tastes of the World comes the opportunity to give our customers a taste of adventure, and following on from last year, this suite of ads does exactly that! We’re encouraging our customers to try something a little bit different, with four tasty burgers all inspired by countries from around the world.

Pete Heyes, Creative Director at Leo Burnett London, said: “It’s great to continue this platform through into year two. And this year, it’s just that bit bigger and funnier. Scorching British summers aside, it may well be worth considering a staycation and a McDonald’s.”

In the new television spot, a group of Brits clad in summer walking gear are preparing to scale a verdant mountain in the Swiss Alps. Before they can, however, the weather closes in and they are left shivering in an ice cave.

The voiceover says ‘Sometimes a taste is all you need’ – the strapline associated with McDonald’s Great Tastes of the World. We then see a close-up shot of the McDonald’s rich and creamy Swiss stack looking delicious with its smoky bacon and emmental cheese sauce.

The ad follows a spot promoting the French-inspired burger in which Lycra-clad Brits attempting - and failing - to tackle the Pyrenees on their high-end racing bikes are cheerily passed by a local Frenchman effortlessly scaling the hill on his traditional push bike.

Two further television ads will follow promoting Brazil and Jamaica-inspired menu items, along with radio spots, social activity, press, digital and out-of-home advertising. In each, a similar theme is followed with holiday optimism quickly turning out to be misplaced.

Each country-themed burst runs for two weeks, making eight weeks in total for the campaign. The Switzerland ad breaks on October 10.

Michelle Graham-Clare, McDonald’s Head of Marketing, Food and Beverages, said: “With Great Tastes of the World comes the opportunity to give our customers a taste of adventure, and following on from last year, this suite of ads does exactly that! We’re encouraging our customers to try something a little bit different, with four tasty burgers all inspired by countries from around the world.

Pete Heyes, Creative Director at Leo Burnett London, said: “It’s great to continue this platform through into year two. And this year, it’s just that bit bigger and funnier. Scorching British summers aside, it may well be worth considering a staycation and a McDonald’s.”

In the Golden State Warriors’ final season playing at Oracle Arena in Oakland, ‘Game Recognize Game’ is a dedicated campaign to recognize the famously loyal fans who’ve supported the Warriors across five decades of history. ‘Game Recognize Game’ celebrates the franchise’s legacy in Oakland through novel pairings of Warriors players -- old school and new -- that have given fans reasons to cheer for 47 seasons. The tagline also winks at local fans who recognize the 1993 Bay Area rap anthem of the same name.

Game Recognize Game is the first work for the Warriors by Duncan Channon to acknowledge fans as the franchise transitions from Oakland to San Francisco’s Chase Center in fall 2019.

The campaign debuts October 15 wrapping Oracle Arena in advance of the Warriors v. Thunder season opener -- with OOH appearing throughout the Bay Area. TV spots will air on CSN Bay Area and ABC. A second phase of OOH is planned that features actual Bay Area fans, and spotlights the diverse neighborhoods that make up Dub Nation. To complement the creative campaign, the Warriors will also host in-arena activations to help fans celebrate memorable moments across five decades of Dubs.

Five Decades of Dubs

"The 2018-19 Golden State Warriors could be one of the best squads to ever take the floor in the NBA, but the campaign reflects the idea that the defending champions know they were built on the backs of fifty years of Warrior teams running the floor in Oakland,” said Parker Channon, co-founder, Duncan Channon. “They know that before the Splash Brothers, there was run TMC. And Manute and Sleepy and Rick Barry back in ‘75. All supported by a fan base that’s never left their side.”

“The mutual respect between the Dubs and the fans is a big part of what resonates in the Game Recognize Game idea,” added Channon. “Seeing a Warriors super team built across generations feels like the ultimate gift to the fans, and a natural fit for a team that routinely acknowledges the work and history that precedes their accomplishments today.”

The Players that Built Dub Nation

“Bringing the Game Recognize Game idea to life visually using nearly 50 years of photography was a fun challenge,” said Jennifer Kellogg, design director, Duncan Channon. “We were intentional about treating the photography to make players from different decades feel like they’re in the same world, on the same court. And, The Game Recognize Game type reflects off of itself to convey this sense of appreciation and interaction between the generations of players and fans.”

Advertising agency barrettSF concludes its multimedia marketing campaign with a video showcasing prolific WWE Superstars to launch this year’s release in the popular WWE 2K video game franchise. WWE 2K19 released October 9 for the PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, and Windows PC.

The theme of the campaign – “Never Say Never” – is brought to life in the ad through the backstories of the featured WWE Superstars, highlighting their improbable individual journeys to WWE stardom.

The commercial is the last in a series of four, all of which are tied together with the “Never Say Never” theme. The prior three ads showcased WWE Superstars “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and Daniel Bryan, as well as former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio. But, in this final chapter of the campaign, a broad array of WWE Superstars are on prominent display.

From an unlikely ascension of the shorter-statured Rey Mysterio in a land of giants, to former reality star The Miz’s crossover success, to the redemption story of WWE 2K19 cover Superstar AJ Styles, the campaign highlights how each WWE Superstar overcame the odds in visually distinctive ways.

The ad broke on October 1 and will air globally on broadcast, as well as on a variety of digital and social platforms.

“There’s no instruction manual for how to make it in WWE, and ultimately WWE 2K19,” said Todd Eisner, creative director at barrettSF. “Every WWE Superstar’s story is different, yet each has one thing in common – they were all told they’d never make it. It’s fun to celebrate those who make their dreams come true, especially when the dream is as wild as becoming a WWE Superstar.”

barrettSF began its relationship with 2K for the launch of WWE 2K15 in 2014, making this their fifth year of campaign partnership.